Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts

Department

Art

First Advisor

James Hutson

Second Advisor

Caroline Paganussi

Abstract

This paper analyzes the triptych entitled The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch painted between 1490 and 1510. This specific piece is Bosch’s most famous and therefore garners the largest amount of discourse analyzing the visual components of it. This specific paper is unique in its approach by using methodology similar to music historians to relate the forms of music popular at this time to the visual elements in the work. Some of the most popular music genres at the time were those of madrigal and polyphonic. An additional element popular in the transition between the 15th and 16th century is dissonance. All of these elements are examples of form that can be applied to both music and the visual arts. Analyzing The Garden of Earthly Delights with these forms not only highlights the relationship between art and music but also gives insight into the ideals and opinions of the patron of the work as well as the artist. It is necessary when approaching this work through the lens of music history to understand the references that Bosch makes, as well as how to interpret those signified. The aim of this paper is to employ the analytic methods used in both art and music history in order to interpret The Garden of Earthly Delights and produce a unique piece of scholarship that provides an in-depth example of how music influenced the visual practices and iconographies of the Northern Renaissance.

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